Trash can and support assemblies



Sept- 5, 19 1 J. c. WILLIAMS 2,998,952

TRASH CAN AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1E'Hg-i INVENTOR. JOSE'AV C WILLIAMS BY ATTOE/VE V Sept. 5, 1961 J. c.WILLIAMS 2,998,952

TRASH cm AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

J05 5P1! C! W/L L lAMS A TTOeIVE Y United States Patent 6 2,998,952TRASH CAN AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Joseph C. Williams, PD. Box 6711, SanAntonio, Tex. Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,119 1 Claim. (Cl.248-156) This invention relates to novel trash can and supportassemblies.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved assemblies ofthis kind wherein the trash cans are rotatably and removably mounted onsingle groundanchored posts, above ground level, by means of hookformations or handle elements of the cans hooked on the posts, and bymeans of chocks on the lower 'part of the cans which bear against theposts and serve to guide and confine the cans to" rotation on the postsand, in conjunction with the frictional bearing of the handle hookformations on the cans, serve to prevent free and vagrant rotation ofthe cans around the posts. Advantages achieved by the said assembliesinclude positive resistance to the cans being overturned and theircontents spilled on the ground, by such as high winds, foraging animals,and mischievous children, and prevention of rusting and corroding of thecan bottoms by being supported out of contact with the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in assemblies of thecharacter indicated, hook formations for suspending the cans on theposts, which are simple and inconspicuous modifications of existinghandle forms, and which do not consttiute undesirable projections, whenthe cans are off the posts, which would interfere with or renderdangerous, normal handling of the cans.

A further object of the invention is to provide assemblies of thecharacter indicated above whose constructions is uncomplex, are composedof a minimum number of simple and easily assembled, and which can bemade in rugged and serviceable forms at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a trash can of the type having sidehandles which are modified to provide suspension hooks, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly insection, showing an assembly ofthe invention, involving the can of FIGURE 1, suspended as a post driveninto the ground;

FIGURE 3 is top plan view of FIGURE 2, showing rotated positons of thecan, in solid line and phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmcntary'vertical transverse section taken onthe line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, showing thehook-equipped can side handle in elevated, can-suspending position andin stop engagement with the side of the can, at a point above the swingaxis of the handle;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation, portions being in section, ofanother assembly of the invention, involving a type trash can having asingle bail handle, whose journal loops are modified, in accordance withthe present invention, to provide suspension hooks to supportably engagethe post; and

FIGURE 8 is afurther enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the cane!FIGURE 7, showing details of its hook formation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and 2,998,952 PatentedSept. 5, 1961 ice related numerals designate like parts and relatedparts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES l to 6, thenumeral 10 generally designates the assembly therein shown, whichcomprises a preferably tubular perpendicular post 12, whose lower end isanchored, as by being driven into the ground G, and which is open at itsupper end, as indicated at 14, so as to provide a socket 16 having acircular horizontal upper edge 17, the outer surface 18 of the postbeing cylindrical and smooth.

The assembly or combination 10 further comprises a generallyconventional trash can 20, closed at its upper end by a cover 22, andhaving a band or rim 24 around the lower end of its side wall 26.Suitably fixed on diametrically opposed sides of the can side wall 26,on a level below the upper end of the can, are handle journal brackets28. The brackets 28 can comprise plates 30 having, midway between theirupper and lower ends, horizontal channels 32, which, with.the side wall26, define journals for the straight upper journal elements 34 of handlerings 36, which have straight lower hand-grip elements 38, whichnormally bear against the can side wall 26, in down-swung, pendantpositions which the handle rings normally assume.

In accordance with the present invention, these side handles aremodified, to the extent of providing the upper ring elements 34, midwaybetween the ends thereof, with laterally outwardly extending hooks 40,which are composed of straight shanks 41 which terminate at theiroutward ends in downwardly and inwardly angled terminals 42. The shanks41 work freely but guidedly in circumferential slots 44 provided in thechannels 32, whose upper ends 46 are disposed so as to permit the hooks38 to assume upwardly angled positions, relative to the can side wall26, as seen in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6, with the lower ring elements 36 closeto and preferably bearing in stop engagement against the can side wall26, at points spaced above the bracket plates 30.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the can 20 is suspended on the post 12 bylifting the can off the ground G and engaging the hook 38, at one sideof the can, in lhc socket 16 in the upper end of the post 12, whercatthe handle ring 36 becomes loosely circumposed on the post, and therebyserves as a safety ring, and then as a handle for disengaging the hookfrom the socket 16, in removing the can from the post.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the hooks 38 are of sufficient length that,when engaged in the post socket 16, the can is suspended on the post 12,at an outwardly and upwardly inclined angle, such that the lower part ofthe can 20 is gravitationally swung inwardly toward the post 12.

For guidingly holding the lower end of the can 20 relative to the post,there is suitably fixed, on one, or two diametrically opposed points ofthe band or rim 24, around the lower end of the can, a chock 48. Thechock 48 preferably comprises a length 50 of strip metal which issecured, as indicated at 52, at its ends to the band or rim 24, and isformed intermediate its ends with a pair of laterally outwardlyextending V-shaped projections 54, which define therebetween a V-shapednotch 56, to rotatably receive an adjacent side of the post 12, andwhose sides 58 make frictional contact with the post, to preclude, inconjunction with the sliding and frictional engagement of a related hook38, on the upper edge 17 of the post 12, to preclude vagrant rotation ofthe can 20 around the post. This arrangement also reduces the hazards ofand renders easier the lifting of the can .20 and its hook 38 off thepost 12, since this can be done, using one or both of the side handles,and keeping the guide chock 48 in guiding contact with the post 12 untilthe bottom of the can 20 has reached the ground G.

The form of assembly of the invention, shown in FIG- URES 7 and- 8, are'generailydesignated 10a, involves an anchored perpendicular post 120,similarto the post 12, having a socket 16a in its upper end, defining acircular horizontal upper edge 17a. The can 20a in this assembly'difierstrom'the can 20, of FIGURES 1to'6, inahat side handles are absent, and amingle bail handle 60 serves in their place.

Handle side brackets 28a 'are fixed on opposite'sides-ot the =ean 20a,like the brackets128,'and comprise plates 30a which have laterallyoutwardly projecting vertical ears 62 at their centers, *formed as byfolding'the plates SOaJand journal holeaiflcl tormed in the cars .62.:The bail handle bale 64 formed at its ends with transverse verticalloope- 66 which havejournal portions 34a at their lower ends which arerotatably engagedthrough the'ear holes 82a. One side member 68 of theloops 66, which extend upwardly alongside of lower-endportions'ofthe'bail-M terminates at its upper end in laterally outwardly extendinghook 40a, composed of a'straiglit, generally horlzontalshank 41a whichterminates at'itaoutward end in a downwardly curved terminal Ma. Theterminal-42a is adapted to be engaged in the socket 1640f the post 12a,with 'the dhank 41a bearing upon the upper 'edge'l'la 'of' the -post,finthe manher and for the purposes ofthe'hooks 'of FIGURES '1 'to6.

- A chock 48a, similar to the chock -48, iseecm'ed on' the 'band'flaon"the*lower'end'ot the can 20a'to engage the post "12a, .in the mannerand for 'the-purpose'deeeribed in connection with FIGURES 1' to 6.

ifilthough there have beenmhownand described herein preferred forms ofthe invention, it is to be understood that .the invention .is .notnecessarily .confined thereto. and that any change or changes in thestructures of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof arecontemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by.the .claim appended .hereto.

What. 'is.c1aimedjs:

An assembly comprising a perpendicular ground anchored posthavingmtubularopen-npper end, a trash can having upper and lower ends,laterally projecting hook means'securedzto the can intermediate the endsof the can, said hook means being downwardly and freely=engagedeinrsaidrupper =end, :and 'a'fixed laterally projectingChOCklOIlihellOWfil' end o'f'the can having a notch receiv ingtsaidpost,5said:hook means comprising a downturned hook tiementand-ahandleloop'on which said hook element'iszcentered,the-handle loop beingremovably circumposed onthezpost.

References'Clted in'the 'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS828,052 Pritchard Aug. 7. 1906 1944,777 :Feldman Dec. 28, 1909 1,569,663Lawless Jan. 19, 1926 31.772392 Firl Aug. 5, 1930 --2;4Q0,Z77 'WulsteinMay 6, 1947 2,448,456 'Niskanen Aug. 31, 1948 $508,258 Heinrich May 16,1950 2,522,778 Cannon Sept. 19, 1950 2,582,906 Hendenbrand Jan. 15, 1952"2-,Q29;5i2 McDougle Mar. 22, 1960

